DENTON, Texas – St. Edward's softball bounced back from a Game 1 loss to earn a critical doubleheader split against Texas Woman's University, winning the season series 3-1 and keeping pace with Eastern New Mexico and St. Mary's in a crowded field vying for the fifth seed.
 
Game 1: TWU 3, St. Edward's 0
St. Edward's KYLEN PADGETT and Texas Woman's University's Randi Crawford were both outstanding in a classic pitching duel, with the latter edging out Padgett seven strikeouts to five in a 3-0 Pioneers' win. 
 
The Hilltoppers threatened in the third with two walks but left both stranded. Texas Woman's University broke through in the fourth with back-to-back singles from Ashley Allinger and Malarie Medina. Allinger stole third, and TWU plated its first run on a bunt single from Riley Todd. 
 
Allinger drew a one-out walk, and Medina belted a two-run home run in the sixth to give TWU its 3-0 lead. CIANA RODRIGUEZ hit a two-out single to center in the seventh, but the Hilltopper momentum stopped there. 
 
Game 2: St. Edward's 3, TWU 2
St. Edward's tweaked its lineup in the second game, moving LAUREN HOYT into the No. 2 spot. The senior rewarded the move with a perfect 3-for-3 performance with three RBI from the senior in a 3-2 win. 
 
Starting pitcher LISETTE URQUIDEZ and the Hilltopper defense retired the first six TWU hitters, ending the first inning on a 6-3 double play, and Urquidez striking out two of three in the second. 
 
An error extended St. Edward's at-bat with two outs in the third, and the Hilltoppers capitalized with Hoyt's RBI single to left field, scoring ARIANNA VIDALES. 
 
The Pioneers broke through against Urquidez with back-to-back infield singles to open the bottom of the third inning, and Lauryn Davies moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. St. Edward's picked up a critical out, getting the lead runner in a rundown at home, but Marissa Espinoza followed with an RBI double down the left-field line to tie the game. 
 
KATIE DILLON bunted a leadoff single in the top of the fifth, then stole second, scoring from there on Hoyt's RBI single up the middle to reclaim the lead. 
 
Urquidez continued to roll in the sixth, striking out the side with one walk surrendered, and Dillon and Hoyt repeated the fifth inning in the seventh. Dillon singled on a bunt, stole second, and Hoyt drove the ball into center field for the RBI single. 
 
Todd hit a leadoff single in the seventh and advanced to scoring position on an error, scoring on Davies' bunt. St. Edward's turned to MADDIE AGUILAR out of the bullpen, who recorded three consecutive outs to earn the save. 
 
Urquidez struck out eight in six innings, surrendering eight hits and two walks with only one of the two runs earned. Dillon hit 2-for-3 with two runs, Vidales hit 1-for-4 with a run, and ELLA HUTZLER hit 2-for-3.
 
St. Edward's exits the weekend 25-21 with a 19-17 conference record, remaining one game ahead of St. Mary's after the Rattlers split a doubleheader against UT Tyler and tied with Eastern New Mexico. The Hilltoppers will travel to Oklahoma this week, playing Cameron on Wednesday and Oklahoma Christian on Friday.